Nkunku’s Missed Chance Haunts Chelsea in FIFA Club World Cup Clash vs Palmeiras
In a dramatic moment during the FIFA Club World Cup quarter-final on July 4, 2025, Christopher Nkunku’s missed opportunity in the 32nd minute may have changed the trajectory of the match between Chelsea FC and Palmeiras. Held at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, the high-stakes rematch of the 2022 final saw Chelsea fail to capitalize on early dominance—ultimately settling for a 1-1 draw after a stunning equalizer by Palmeiras star Estêvão Willian.
⚽ Nkunku Denied by Weverton in Pivotal First-Half Moment
With Chelsea leading 1-0 through an earlier strike by Cole Palmer, the Blues looked poised to extend their advantage. In the 32nd minute, Palmer, thriving under Enzo Maresca’s fluid 4-2-3-1 system, picked up the ball outside the Palmeiras penalty area. Drawing defenders Rony and Murilo, Palmer produced a slick feint to create space and delivered a perfect through-ball to Nkunku, who had timed his run to perfection into the six-yard box.
The French forward, enjoying a strong comeback season after injury setbacks, struck the ball cleanly with his right foot. However, Palmeiras goalkeeper Weverton produced a sensational save, diving low to his right to deny what looked like a certain goal. Murilo was quick to clear the rebound, stopping Nicolas Jackson from converting.
The missed chance left Nkunku in disbelief and Maresca visibly frustrated on the touchline—gesturing in anguish as the golden opportunity slipped away.
💥 Palmeiras Strikes Back: Estêvão’s Equalizer Shifts Momentum
Just 21 minutes after Nkunku’s missed chance, Palmeiras drew level through a jaw-dropping strike from rising star Estêvão Willian, who fired from a tight angle to beat Djordje Petrović and make it 1-1. The goal flipped the momentum and showcased Palmeiras’ resilience despite missing several first-team defenders.
Chelsea, who had dominated the first half, once again struggled to convert their control into goals—a theme that also plagued them in their 3-1 group-stage loss to Flamengo earlier in the tournament.
📉 Fan Reactions and Tactical Takeaways
Chelsea fans took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to voice their frustration. One viral post called Nkunku’s miss “the kind of moment that haunts a season,” while others applauded Palmer’s creativity and vision—highlighting his nine Premier League assists this season.
Nkunku’s near miss summed up his Chelsea journey to date: moments of brilliance edged out by fine margins. While his connection with Palmer looked promising, the team’s lack of clinical finishing continues to be a major concern for Enzo Maresca’s project.
🔍 What This Means for Chelsea’s Club World Cup Campaign
With a semi-final spot against Fluminense on the line, the result places additional pressure on Chelsea to address their attacking inefficiency. Nkunku’s miss—and Weverton’s heroic save—may be remembered as a turning point, especially if Chelsea fail to advance further.
Despite strong individual performances and tactical control, Chelsea must improve their goal conversion rate if they hope to challenge for the Club World Cup title.